The Mind's Eye

Vision Exam

Testing for More than 20/20
20/20 just means that the person can clearly see a certain letter on the standard eye chart (equivalent to what a person with normal vision should be able to see at 20 feet). There’s so much more to healthy vision than 20/20!

• Visual Acuity at Near
Is vision clear and single at close distances? Clear sight at short distances is critical to reading, writing, close work, computer use, etc.

Our 21st century lifestyle demands more from our vision than ever before. Children and adults in our technological society constantly use their near vision at school, work and at home. Environmental stresses on the visual system (including excessive computer use or close work) can sometimes induce headaches and/or visual difficulties which can be effectively treated with corrective lenses and/or Vision Therapy.

• Eye Teaming Skills
Do the two eyes aim, move and work as a coordinated team? Weaknesses in binocular (two-eyed) vision and eye teaming skills can cause numerous difficulties, including convergence insufficiency and poor depth perception.

• Eye Movement Skills
Do eye movements show adequate muscle control, tracking, fixation, etc.? In the classroom, normal eye movements allow rapid and accurate shifting of the eyes along a line of print or from book to desk to board, etc. In sports, efficient eye movements contribute to eye-hand coordination, visual reaction time and accurate tracking.

• Reversal Frequency
Is confusion or reversal of letters or words (b, d; p, q; saw, was; etc.) within the normal ranges for a given age? Past the age of seven, frequent visual and written reversals might indicate a visual perceptual dysfunction.

Above are just a few of the many visual skills evaluated during our comprehensive vision exam. We work with your primary eye care doctor when it comes to the health of your eyes. We do not have an optical and recommend that your eyewear and contact lenses be purchased from your primary eye care doctor as well. A comprehensive eye exam including evaluation of your eye health, inside and out, will be performed if you have not had a comprehensive eye exam within the past year or you do not have a primary eye care doctor. Eye health evaluations are important for addressing such problems as cataracts, glaucoma, hypertension, diabetes, etc.

Comprehensive Eye Exams for Children
The American Optometric Association recommends that pre-school children receive a comprehensive eye exam at the ages of six months, three years and five years. It is particularly important that a child have a comprehensive eye exam in the summer prior to entry into Kindergarten. While in school, yearly comprehensive eye exams are recommended.

Comprehensive Eye Exams for Adults
The American Optometric Association recommends a yearly comprehensive eye exam for adults — not only to detect and to diagnose vision changes or problems — but, also to maintain eye health. For example, glaucoma, a disease often caused by increased pressure in the eye, commonly goes unnoticed by adults. Regular comprehensive eye examinations are also important for the prevention of vision problems created or aggravated by today’s academic and professional demands.